Washington DC Adult Entertainment: District’s ‘prostitution-free zones’ likely unconstitutional, AG’s office says
Written on January 25, 2012 – 8:37 pm | by larrylibido
Posted at 05:23 PM ET, 01/24/2012 District’s ‘prostitution-free zones’ likely unconstitutional, AG’s office says By Tim Craig
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Under current law, Gorman said police do not need “probable cause” to arrest someone using the prostitution-free zone statue. For the current law and Alexander’s proposal to pass constitutional muster, the Attorney General’s Office recommends it be amended to require police to prove “intent” before making an arrest in the zone.
“It should be recognized that the standard of proof required in the District to show intent to engage in prostitution is high, and may be hard to prove in many cases,” Levinson-Waldman said.
Council member Phil Mendelson (D-At large), chairman of the Judiciary Committee, said he still thinks the zones are useful in combating crime because johns and prostitutes have been less likely to do business in those areas.
“It’s about disrupting,” Mendelson said. “If the market has to move because of a prostitution-free zone, it’s going to hurt business.”